functional morphology
- Morphology and performance of the ‘trap-jaw’ cheliceral strikes in spiders (Araneae, Mecysmaucheniidae)
Highlighted Article: The ultra-fast cheliceral strike of mecysmaucheniid spiders, the fastest documented movement among arachnids, is achieved via shifts in the shape of external structures and shifts in muscle anatomy towards increased specialization.
- Mechanical fatigue fractures bivalve shells
Highlighted Article: Chronic or repeated subcritical forces weaken and fracture mussel shells. The scale of this mechanical fatigue provides ecological insight into the forces that can break mussel shells.
- A salamander that chews using complex, three-dimensional mandible movements
Summary: 3D kinematics and morphological analysis reveal that the paedomorphic salamander Siren intermedia uses complex 3D chewing, suggesting that such mechanisms might have evolved early in the tetrapod evolution.
- The mechanics of air breathing in gray tree frog tadpoles, Hyla versicolor (Anura: Hylidae)
Summary: Tadpoles suck bubbles from the water's surface to breathe air, but gray tree frog tadpoles suck two bubbles. Double bubble-sucking prevents mixing of expired and inspired airstreams, increasing respiratory efficiency.
- Cranial kinesis in the miniaturised lizard Ablepharus kitaibelii (Squamata: Scincidae)
Summary: Investigation of cranial kinesis in the miniaturised lizard Ablepharus kitaibelii provides the first experimental evidence for mesokinesis in a member of the Scincidae.
- Hydrodynamic function of dorsal fins in spiny dogfish and bamboo sharks during steady swimming
Summary: The function of dorsal fins varies among shark species, and these fins can act in either a stabilizing or thrust-generating role.
- Mechanical properties of sediment determine burrowing success and influence distribution of two lugworm species
Summary: Field-based measurements link distribution of two ecosystem engineer lugworm species with the mechanical properties of the sediment, their differential burrowing success and morphological features.
- The evolution of jaw protrusion mechanics is tightly coupled to bentho-pelagic divergence in damselfishes (Pomacentridae)
Summary: Evolutionary analyses of both form and function in damselfishes demonstrate tight linkage between jaw protrusion ability and the repeated convergence on predominantly benthic or predominantly pelagic feeding niches.
- Lubricating the swordfish head
Highlighted Article: A newly discovered organ in the swordfish head, consisting of an oil-producing gland connected to capillaries with oil-excreting pores in the skin, may reduce streamwise friction drag and increase swimming efficiency.
- Jumping mechanisms and performance in beetles. I. Flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticini)
Highlighted Article: Flea beetles use a resilin-based structure as an elastic energy store for the catapult jumping mechanism.